Orla Barry is an artist based in Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk. She paints using acrylics, oils and watercolours. Her collection of work includes original paintings, Giclée art prints, brooches, necklaces and greeting cards. She is inspired by animals, nature, sacred art, mysticism, surrealism, fairy tales, patterns and a search for perfect colour combinations. Orla graduated with an honours degree in Fine Art from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2007.
She regularly exhibits her paintings throughout Ireland and has completed residencies at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan, Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry, Nes Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland, Stiwdio Maelor, Wales and Takahuhti Artcenter, Finland. One of her paintings is held in the Dundalk Town Council collection. Orla had her first solo exhibition ‘Otherworldly’ in the Basement Gallery, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk in 2015. She was awarded Matthews Arts Showcase in December 2015 and won a full ad featuring her painting ‘Meet me Halfway’ on the back of a coach for 6 months.
Orla’s prints, brooches and cards are stocked in shops and galleries in Ireland and the UK.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2017 CIT
Certificate in the Principles of Art Therapy
2003-2007 Dublin Institute of Technology
2.1 Degree in Fine Art
2002-2003 O’Fiaich College, Dundalk, Co.Louth
Distinction in Fetac Award Level 2 Art and Design.
Solo Exhibitions
2016
‘Otherwordly’, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, Kildare, May-June
2015
‘Otherworldly’, Basement Gallery, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, July-Aug
Joint Exhibitions
2008
“Orla Barry & James Mongey”, The Grange Gallery, Dublin, July
Group Exhibitions
2021
‘Simple Pleasure’, Louth Craftmark virtual exhibition, April
2020
‘Silver’, Bridge Street Studios 25th anniversary exhibition in vacant shop fronts in Dundalk in conjunction with An Táin Arts Centre, December
‘How we live now’, Virtual exhibition with An Táin Arts Centre, June
‘Glowing Works That Make the Heart Sing’, Basement Gallery, An Táin Arts Centre, February
2019
‘Christmas Show’, Bridge Street Studios, November
2018
‘Just Like Soho’, Basement Gallery, An Táin Arts Centre, Dundalk, June
‘Dathanna agus Blathanna’, The Gallery, Listoke, Listoke House and Gardens, Drogheda, July-Dec
2017
‘Louth Craftmark’, The Gallery, Listoke, Listoke House and Gardens, Drogheda, June-Aug
‘Edge’, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, September
2016
Upcoming ‘One Hundred Years of Heritage’, Louth Craftmark, The Gallery, Listoke, Listoke House and Gardens, Drogheda, Aug-Sep
‘Christmas Show’, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, November
‘Christmas’, The Gallery, Listoke, Listoke House and Gardens, December
2015
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, November
2014
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, November
2013
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, December
“Response”, The Basement Gallery, Dundalk, November
“Response”, The Granary, Tipperary, October
“Response”, Armagh Market Place Arts Centre, August
“Community”, Louth County Museum, Dundalk, July
2012
“All I Want…”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, November
“Links”, Abbey Gallery, Drogheda, October
“Community”, Louth County Museum, Dundalk, July
“Draw Tintin”, Little Green Street Gallery, Dublin, April
“Bridges”, Louth County Museum, Dundalk, March
“Bridges”, The Blackbird Gallery, Kilkenny, January
2011
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, November
“Inklings”, Little Green Street Gallery, Dublin, November
“This Space”, Little Green Street Gallery, Dublin, November
“PINK PINK PINK”, Mad Art Gallery, Dublin, September
2010
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, December
“The Pointless Pursuit of Shadows”, Signal Arts Centre, Wicklow, November
“Put a Lid on it”, Galway Arts Centre, November
“Christmas 200”, Canvas Galleries, Belfast, November
“Bridge Street Studios”, Cuckoo Initiative, Louth, August
“NIGAT Exhibition”, Common Grounds Café, Belfast, July
2009
“Christmas Show”, Bridge Street Studios, Dundalk, December
“The Christmas 200”, Canvas Galleries, Belfast, November
“Big Ideas, Small Works”, An Clachan Gallery, Donegal, November
2008
“Our Gift To You”, Carlinn Gallery, Louth, December
2007
“DIT Graduate Show”, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 1, June
“Showcase of DIT Graduates”, Dame Street Gallery, Dublin 2, June
Residencies
June 2019 Takahuhti Artcenter, Finland
February 2018 Stiwdio Maelor, Wales
September 2014 The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan
May 2014 The Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Monaghan
November 2012 Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry
June 2012 Camino Artes, Carrion de los Condes, Spain
September 2011 Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry
October 2010 Nes Artist Residency, Skagaströnd, Iceland
August 2010 Cill Rialaig Project, Kerry
June-July 2007 Cyprus College of Art (Student at Summer Studio)